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<h2><strong>Recipes for Warm Winter Cocktails</strong></h2>
<h3><strong>Hot toddy</strong></h3>
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<p>This classic drink was originally used to cure colds. It includes your choice of whiskey, rum or brandy, lemon, honey or maple syrup and hot water. You can also mix hot toddy ingredients with tea.</p>
<ol>
<li>Mix 1½ ounces of liquor with a tablespoon of honey or maple syrup.</li>
<li>Add ½ cup of hot water.</li>
<li>Squeeze in the juice from a lemon wedge and garnish with a lemon slice, star anise, cinnamon sticks or cloves.</li>
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<h3><strong>Spiked apple cider</strong></h3>
<p>You can serve this seasonal treat in apple cups. You’ll need apple cider, whiskey, caramel, your favorite type of apple and cinnamon sticks.</p>
<ol>
<li>Heat a gallon of apple cider, 1½ cups of whiskey, three cinnamon sticks and ½ cup of caramel on the stove or in a Crockpot for one to two hours, stirring occasionally.</li>
<li>Carve out the apples and douse them with lemon juice.</li>
<li>Pour the cider into the apple cups and garnish with more cinnamon sticks.</li>
</ol>
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<h3><strong>Mulled wine</strong></h3>
<p>Warm red wine mixed with savory spices. What’s not to love? Here’s what you’ll need: a bottle of red wine, brandy, an orange, cloves, cinnamon sticks, star anise and honey.</p>
<ol>
<li>Mix the bottle of red wine with ¼ cup of honey and ½ cup of brandy in a pan over medium heat.</li>
<li>Add orange slices, six cloves, three cinnamon sticks and three star anise to the pan.</li>
<li>Bring the mixture to a boil, then simmer for 10 minutes. Garnish with more star anise, cloves or cinnamon sticks.</li>
</ol>
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<h3><strong>Baileys hot chocolate</strong></h3>
<p>Make this chocolaty winter cocktail using instant cocoa or try it from scratch.</p>
<ol>
<li>Mix three tablespoons of cocoa powder with ¼ cup milk and whisk together.</li>
<li>Add another 1¾ cups of milk and mix until smooth.</li>
<li>Whisk in three tablespoons of sugar, ¼ teaspoon of vanilla extract, ¼ cup of semisweet chocolate chips and a pinch of cinnamon.</li>
<li>Cook over medium heat for about two minutes, then add two ounces of Baileys Irish Cream.</li>
<li>Garnish with whipped cream or marshmallows.</li>
</ol>
<h2><strong>Warm Winter Mocktail Recipes</strong></h2>
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<h3><strong>Green tea hot toddy</strong></h3>
<p>Enjoy the soothing warmth of a hot toddy without alcohol. You’ll need your favorite green tea, honey, orange and lemon juices, cloves, nutmeg, star anise, cinnamon sticks and lemon wedges.</p>
<ol>
<li>Mix a teaspoon of honey, two ounces of orange juice, one teaspoon of lemon juice, ⅛ teaspoon of ground cloves and ⅛ teaspoon of ground nutmeg in a glass.</li>
<li>Steep a green tea bag for two to three minutes, then pour over the honey mixture.</li>
<li>Garnish with a cinnamon stick, star anise or lemon wedge.</li>
</ol>
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<h3><strong>Butterbeer</strong></h3>
<p>This one is for Harry Potter fans. You’ll need cream soda, caramel and butter extracts, heavy whipping cream, butterscotch topping and powdered sugar.</p>
<ol>
<li>Whip one cup of heavy whipping cream until it forms stiff peaks.</li>
<li>Mix ¼ teaspoon caramel extract and ¼ teaspoon butter extract with two liters of cream soda. Stir until frothy, but don’t lose the carbonation.</li>
<li>Pour the soda mixture into a glass, top with the whipped cream and garnish with butterscotch topping and powdered sugar.</li>
</ol>
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<h3><strong>Peppermint hot chocolate</strong></h3>
<p>Try this easy spin on a cold-weather winter mocktail classic. Ingredients include water, unsweetened cocoa powder, sugar, milk, peppermint extract, whipped cream and candy canes.</p>
<ol>
<li>Whisk two tablespoons of water, ¾ cup of cocoa powder and ¼ cup of granulated sugar in a pot over low heat until smooth.</li>
<li>Add four cups of milk and stir every twenty minutes until bubbles form.</li>
<li>Turn off the heat and add ½ teaspoon of peppermint extract.</li>
<li>Top drinks with whipped cream and candy canes.</li>
</ol>
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<h3><strong>Mulled cider</strong></h3>
<p>This recipe takes about 25 minutes to make and serves 16 people.</p>
<ol>
<li>Mix a gallon of apple cider, a tablespoon of whole cloves, three cinnamon sticks, a few orange slices and ¼ cup of fresh or frozen cranberries in a pot.</li>
<li>Bring the concoction to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 20 minutes.</li>
<li>Serve in mugs or glasses and garnish with more cranberries, orange slices and cinnamon sticks.</li>
</ol>
<h2><strong>Looking for Apartments in Columbus, OH?</strong></h2>
<p>Ardent Communities has <a href="/apartments/">apartment and townhome communities around Columbus, Ohio</a>. Learn about community amenities and apply for your new home.</p>
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Warm Winter Cocktails & Mocktails to Make in Your Apartment

<p>So, how do you decide which is right for you? The answer depends on your budget, space requirements and location preference.</p>
<h2>What You Get When You Rent a House</h2>
<p><strong>Cost:</strong> Renting a house is often more expensive than renting an apartment. Some landlords include certain utilities, while others consider them a separate expense.</p>
<p><strong>Space:</strong> Rental houses offer more square footage and outdoor space. You can enjoy more privacy since you won’t have to consider sharing walls and communal spaces with neighbors.</p>
<p><strong>Parking:</strong> There is no cost for parking if you rent a house, which is helpful <a href="/about-our-company/blog/5-tips-for-creating-a-budget-with-a-roommate/">if you have roommates</a> with multiple vehicles. Rental houses offer driveway, street and garage parking.</p>
<p><strong>Location:</strong> You’re more likely to find rental houses in residential neighborhoods than in the center of a city. That’s beneficial if you prefer to avoid traffic and hustle and bustle.</p>
<p><strong>Maintenance:</strong> Renting a house means you’re responsible for more maintenance. Those tasks could include cutting the grass, raking leaves and weeding flowerbeds. You will need to notify your landlord if you need repairs, which may take time if they have to find a contractor to complete the job.</p>
<p><strong>Pets:</strong> Because rental houses have more space, landlords are usually more lenient regarding pet breeds and sizes.</p>
<h2>Advantages of Renting with Ardent Home &amp; Condo Rentals in Columbus, Ohio</h2>
<p>Ardent Home and Condo Rentals has an array of homes and condos designed to fit your lifestyle needs.</p>
<p>Floor plans range from one- to four-bedroom ranches, free-standing and carriage-style homes and condos.</p>
<p>Each rental has a property management team readily available to address your needs and maintenance requests.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.ardenthomeandcondorentals.com/availability">Our locations</a> are situated around central Ohio. Narrow your search for your future home and schedule a tour by calling <a href="tel: +16149898917">614-989-8917</a>.</p>
<h2>What to Expect When Renting an Apartment</h2>
<p><strong>Cost:</strong> Renting an apartment is typically more cost-effective than renting a house, and some utilities may be included in your rent. Apartments are also less expensive than most rental houses due to their smaller size.</p>
<p><strong>Space:</strong> Apartments generally have less square footage than rental houses. However, modern apartment designs offer spacious floor plans for single tenants and roommates.</p>
<p><strong>Parking:</strong> Apartment communities provide covered or uncovered parking spots, while others have garage spaces. Properties are monitored, so parking is more secure than leaving your vehicle on the street.</p>
<p><strong>Location:</strong> If you want to live closer to shops, restaurants and entertainment, renting an apartment might be a better option. Apartment communities are often closer to cities than residential housing, providing easier access to transportation, jobs and recreation.</p>
<p><strong>Maintenance:</strong> When renting an apartment, you also have access to onsite property maintenance technicians who can address emergency repairs. Those employees also tend to lawn care, snow shoveling and facility maintenance.</p>
<p><strong>Amenities:</strong> Apartment amenities are usually available at no additional cost. Those features could include a swimming pool, a fitness center, an outdoor entertainment area, a clubhouse, laundry rooms and workstations. And taking advantage of those amenities can save money on membership and gym fees.</p>
<p><strong>Pets:</strong> If you rent an apartment, you may be limited on the kind of pet you keep and will likely pay a pet fee. However, it’s common for apartment communities to have pet parks or other designated areas for animals.</p>
<h2>The Advantages of Renting from Ardent Communities</h2>
<p>Ardent Communities has a home for you if you’re looking for apartments or townhomes near Columbus, Ohio.</p>
<p>Our apartment floor plans range from single to triple bedrooms. Townhomes have two bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms with plenty of space for multiple tenants.</p>
<p>Each community has <a href="/about-our-company/blog/4-reasons-to-find-an-apartment-community-with-onsite-management/">onsite property management</a> readily available to address your needs. Most of our apartment communities have resort-style swimming pools, outdoor firepits and cooking areas, 24-hour fitness centers and cyber stations.</p>
<p>And if you want to <a href="/about-our-company/blog/new-to-columbus-check-out-these-local-attractions/">explore your neighborhood</a>, our locations are situated near downtown Columbus,  so you’re within minutes of entertainment and local hotspots.</p>
<p>Interested in applying for an apartment or townhome? <a href="/about-our-company/contact-us/">Connect with us</a> online for application information.</p>


Should I Rent a House or An Apartment?

<h2>Conservatory Aglow</h2>
<p>Step into a festive winter wonderland at <a href="https://www.fpconservatory.org/">Franklin Park Conservatory</a>. The outdoor gardens glow with gorgeous, themed light displays, including a rainbow light tunnel, larger-than-life ornament trees and a gingerbread house. Head inside to see illuminated glass installations by Dale Chihuly while you listen to music and sip refreshments.</p>
<h2>Wildlights</h2>
<p>Enjoy one of Central Ohio’s treasured traditions. The holiday season comes to life with millions of LED lights, musical light shows and yuletide festivities at the <a href="https://columbuszoo.org/home">Columbus Zoo and Aquarium</a>. Ride on the Polar Bear Express, visit Santa and take a spin on the carousel.</p>
<h2>Butch Bando’s Fantasy of Lights</h2>
<p>This three-mile drive-through light show has been lighting up Alum Creek State Park Campground for more than 20 years. <a href="https://butchbandosfantasyoflights.com/">Butch Bando’s light display</a> is open Sunday through Thursday, from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. The light shows are choreographed to a radio station so you can enjoy an immersive experience.</p>
<h2>Holiday Bricktacular</h2>
<p>Even <a href="https://www.legolanddiscoverycenter.com/columbus/">LEGOLAND Discovery Center Columbus</a> is celebrating the most wonderful time of the. Try your hand at holiday-themed games and activities, visit LEGO Santa and the Gingerbread Man and find hidden candy canes to unlock special prizes.</p>
<h2>The Nutcracker</h2>
<p>The holiday classic returns to the Ohio Theatre. The <a href="https://www.balletmet.org/performances/the-nutcracker/">Balletmet</a> troupe brings Clara, the Nutcracker Prince and the Mouse King to life in a fantastical display of dance, music and magic. The show runs on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays through Christmas Eve.</p>
<h2>Winter Art Breaks</h2>
<p>The <a href="https://www.columbusmuseum.org/">Columbus Museum of Art</a> hosts family-friendly seasonal crafting sessions through the end of December. Activities last from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and are included with the cost of admission.</p>
<h2>Mad River Mountain and Snow Trails</h2>
<p>Downhill skiers, snowboarders and snow tubers will find plenty of fresh powder at <a href="https://www.skimadriver.com/">Mad River Mountain</a>. The resort is just an hour outside Columbus and has 20 trails of varying difficulty. <a href="https://www.snowtrails.com/">Snow Trails</a> ski resort has 17 trails with several runs for beginners.</p>
<h2>Franklin County Metro Parks</h2>
<p>Enjoy outdoor <a href="https://www.metroparks.net/programs-and-activities/park-activities/">winter activities</a> closer to home at one of Columbus’s 20 natural area parks.</p>
<p>Cross-country skiing:</p>
<ul>
<li>Battelle Darby Creek</li>
<li>Blendon Woods</li>
<li>Glacier Ridge</li>
<li>Highbanks</li>
<li>Prairie Oaks</li>
</ul>
<p>Ice skating:</p>
<ul>
<li>Battelle Darby Creek</li>
<li>Blendon Woods</li>
</ul>
<p>Sledding:</p>
<ul>
<li>Battelle Darby Creek</li>
<li>Blacklick Woods</li>
<li>Highbanks</li>
<li>Scioto Audubon</li>
<li>Scioto Grove</li>
<li>Sharon Woods</li>
<li>Walnut Woods</li>
</ul>
<p>Find your home at Ardent Communities. <a href="/about-our-company/contact-us/">Connect with us</a> to learn about our apartments and townhomes.</p>


A Winter Wonderland: Seasonal Activities Around Columbus

<h2>The Difference Between Intentions and Resolutions</h2>
<p>An intention is based on your values, whereas resolutions are centered around something you hope to achieve. Goals are external pursuits that are specific and measurable. Setting an intention helps you focus on the present and can be put into practice daily.</p>
<p>Intentions also serve as a baseline to refer to throughout the year so you can adjust as necessary. They make room for the unexpected and aren’t limited by the rigidity of a goal.</p>
<p>Some examples of intentions include promoting personal growth or emotional wellness, strengthening relationships and <a href="/about-our-company/blog/want-to-improve-your-health-get-growing/">improving your health</a>. They are ideas with an overarching theme of betterment.</p>
<h2>Tips for Setting Intentions for the New Year</h2>
<p>It’s important to ask yourself questions about your values.</p>
<p>Consider the following:</p>
<ul>
<li>What thoughts, feelings and aspirations are important to you?</li>
<li>What improvements can be made in your daily life that would promote happiness?</li>
<li>What are the basic motivations behind some of your goals or resolutions?</li>
</ul>
<p>When you evaluate the “why” of your long-term aspirations, you’ll understand your true motivations and find ways to implement your intentions each day.</p>
<p>These tips can help you get started:</p>
<p><strong>Make room:</strong> <a href="/about-our-company/blog/how-to-declutter-your-apartment/">Clear your physical space</a> to eliminate distractions while setting intentions.</p>
<p><strong>Find some quiet:</strong> Take time alone to write down your short- and long-term goals and review the intention behind each of them.</p>
<p><strong>Create doable intentions:</strong> Develop a plan to enact your intentions and review them after a short period to see if they need adjusting or no longer fit your values.</p>
<p><strong>Push yourself:</strong> An intention should present a challenge to allow for personal growth. Find something that gets you out of your mental or physical comfort zone.</p>
<p><strong>Make it memorable:</strong> Use a word or phrase to encompass your intention for the new year. It should be short enough to fit on a sticky note and easily referenced.</p>
<p><strong>Give your intention a ritual:</strong> Establishing a routine to check in with your intention will help your brain register change and create a new habit. Reflect on your intention in a specific space, play music or light a candle to get yourself in the mindset to evaluate how you’ve implemented your intention.</p>
<p>Enjoying your living space is one intention to set for the new year. Ardent Communities has living communities in Columbus, Ohio, with luxury amenities and features. <a href="/about-our-company/contact-us/">Connect with us</a> online to learn about our apartments and townhomes.</p>


Setting New Year’s Intentions Instead of Resolutions

<h2>#1 Dress the Part</h2>
<p>It’s important to dress in layers to maintain your body temperature. Wear several light layers instead of a couple of heavy ones. The space between layers allows air to circulate your body heat. You lose heat through your feet, so wear socks and slippers to keep your toes toasty. Flannel shirts and pajamas are other must-have items that will keep you warm during winter.</p>
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<h2>#2 Circulate Existing Heat in Apartment</h2>
<p>Proper air circulation allows heat to disperse evenly through your apartment. Move furniture away from air vents so you don’t inhibit warm airflow. Blocked registers and radiators also pose safety risks. Check that your ceiling fans turn clockwise as that rotation pushes warm air toward the ground.</p>
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<h2>#3 Natural Light Apartment Heating</h2>
<p>Sunlight is limited in the winter, so make the most of its heating power by leaving your curtains, blinds or shades open during the day. The sunlight will naturally heat your space, so you can turn down your thermostat when you’re not home. Shut your curtains for apartment heating at night and keeping the cold air out.</p>
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<h2>#4 Add Some Cozy Décor</h2>
<p>Keeping your apartment warm is the perfect excuse to <a href="/about-our-company/blog/tis-the-season-tips-for-decorating-your-apartment-for-the-holidays/">decorate</a>. Fuzzy throw pillows and blankets retain heat and add colors, patterns and textures to your apartment. Thick rugs will protect your feet from cold floors.</p>
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<h2>#5 Use Your Kitchen Appliances</h2>
<p>Cooking during the winter serves as alternative heating for apartments: you can enjoy seasonal comfort food and let the residual heat from your oven and stove dissipate in your apartment. Leave</p>
<p>the oven door open after you’ve turned it off to allow the remaining heat into your space. However, never use your oven or stove as your primary heat source.</p>
<p>Try slow cookers for roasts and casseroles if you’re not big on cooking in the oven. Other <a href="/about-our-company/blog/first-apartment-checklist-the-items-youll-need-to-feel-at-home/">kitchen gadgets</a> like electric kettles and mug warmers are good for hot drinks such as coffee, tea and cocoa.</p>
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<h2>#6 Eliminate Drafts</h2>
<p>Your efforts at making things cozy will be for naught if you let cold air leak in all winter.</p>
<p>Here are some cold apartment hacks to fight drafts:</p>
<p>Place draft stoppers under or on the inside of exterior doors.</p>
<ul>
<li>Roll bath towels and wedge them on windowsills.</li>
<li>Cover the inside and outside of window A/C units.</li>
<li>Use outlet gasket covers to block cold airflow.</li>
</ul>
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<h2>#7 Prep for Bedtime</h2>
<p>You can turn down your thermostat in the evening and stay toasty by layering your bed with flannel sheets, comforters and blankets. Keeping a humidifier in your bedroom adds moisture to dry winter air. Some models also blow warm air, so you can humidify and heat your bedroom.</p>
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<h2>#8 Throw in an At-Home Workout</h2>
<p>Movement increases your body temperature. Using your body weight in an <a href="/about-our-company/blog/simple-at-home-workouts-for-apartment-dwellers/">apartment workout</a> will raise your heart rate and boost circulation without exercise equipment. Regular exercise also keeps your joints lubricated and flexible during colder months.</p>
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<h2>Cozy Apartments in Columbus, Ohio</h2>
<p>Ardent Communities has apartment suites in Columbus, Ohio, that will keep you comfortable and cozy. Call <a href="tel:6142537368">614-253-7368</a> or <a href="/about-our-company/contact-us/">connect with us online</a> to learn more about Ardent&#8217;s <a href="/apartments/">apartments in central Ohio.</a></p>


Our Blog

Warm Winter Cocktails & Mocktails to Make in Your Apartment

Should I Rent a House or An Apartment?

A Winter Wonderland: Seasonal Activities Around Columbus

Setting New Year’s Intentions Instead of Resolutions

8 Tips to Stay Cozy in the Winter

The Comfort of Home is Here. Find Your Fit!